Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsDiverticulitis DietLifestyle ChangesTreating Flare-UpsFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Diverticulitis Diet
Lifestyle Changes
Treating Flare-Ups
Frequently Asked Questions
Diverticulosisanddiverticulitistogether are called diverticular disease. Diverticula are small outpouchings in the wall of the colon (large intestine). They’re thought to happen because the colon walls develop weak spots.
The ultimate cause is not well understood, but it is now presumed to be from a combination of lifestyle factors, age, and genetics. Diverticula are common, especially in people over age 50, but they don’t usually cause symptoms. Indeed, many people don’t know they have any until they’re seen during acolonoscopy.
However, if diverticula become inflamed, they can cause diverticulitis, which can be painful and inconvenient. This article will describe the lifestyle changes that may help avoida diverticulitis flare-up and what to do when one occurs.
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Foods to Eat
Most people don’t have a problem because of their diverticula. Others, however, may develop diverticulitis, which in some cases can be chronic (comes back over and over). In that case,eating high-fiber foodsor a modified diet might be part of a prevention plan.
During a flare-up, a healthcare provider might recommend aclear liquid dietfor a few days.A liquid diet includes:
When starting to feel better, and when your healthcare provider says it’s OK, more foods can be added slowly back into the diet. The next step on the way to resuming a regular diet might include foods such as:
Studies onprobiotics(beneficial bacterial cultures) in diverticular disease have had mixed outcomes. It’s not agreed upon ifprobioticswill or won’t help in recovering from a diverticulitis flare-up. People should ask their healthcare provider about the use of probiotics for diverticulitis.
Foods to Avoid
When the diverticular disease is not causing any symptoms, the focus should be on eating a healthy diet.Increasing fiberand decreasing refined carbohydrates are usually recommended. However, there isn’t a lot of evidence to recommend a specific diet in people with diverticular disease that’s not causing any symptoms.
While dealing with a diverticulitis flare, a liquid diet or a low fiber diet might be recommended.Foods to avoidmight contain high fiber content or might irritate the digestive system, such as fried or spicy foods or alcohol.
Foods to be cautious of when there are symptoms of diverticulitis (such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, orrectal bleeding) may include:
Check with a healthcare provider about what foods to eat both when there are no symptoms of diverticulitis and when there are symptoms.
Lifestyle changes may not be able to prevent diverticular disease or diverticulitis. But it’s generally recommended that people make a few changes to their lifestyle to avoid potential complications.
The changes that a healthcare provider might recommend include:
If the symptoms are more serious, or if there are complications,antibioticsmight be prescribed. The antibiotics might be taken for seven to 10 days.
If symptoms become severe, if there are complications, or if it’s not possible to recover at home, there may be a need for treatment in the hospital. Antibiotics and other medications may be used. Fluids may also be given through an intravenous line (IV).
In rare cases, surgery may be needed to treat diverticulitis.Resection surgery, where a portion of the intestine is removed, is one type of surgery.
Colostomy surgery, which is used to give the bowel a rest, might also be used.In this surgery, the bowel is redirected through the abdominal wall. Acolostomymight be reversed, or it could become permanent for serious disease, but this is rare with diverticular disease.
What’s key is to notify a healthcare provider right away when symptoms of diverticulitis begin so it can be treated and avoid it getting any worse or causing complications.
When to See a Healthcare ProviderIf symptoms are new, it’s important to talk to a healthcare provider to get recommendations on how to treat them and when it might be necessary to go to the hospital. If the symptoms aren’t getting better in a few days, it’s important to seek treatment so that they don’t get any worse.If diverticulitis keeps coming back over and over, it’s worth talking to agastroenterologist(a specialist in conditions affecting the digestive system) about why that might be happening, if there’s anything that can prevent it, or if there is another condition that could be causing problems.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If symptoms are new, it’s important to talk to a healthcare provider to get recommendations on how to treat them and when it might be necessary to go to the hospital. If the symptoms aren’t getting better in a few days, it’s important to seek treatment so that they don’t get any worse.If diverticulitis keeps coming back over and over, it’s worth talking to agastroenterologist(a specialist in conditions affecting the digestive system) about why that might be happening, if there’s anything that can prevent it, or if there is another condition that could be causing problems.
If symptoms are new, it’s important to talk to a healthcare provider to get recommendations on how to treat them and when it might be necessary to go to the hospital. If the symptoms aren’t getting better in a few days, it’s important to seek treatment so that they don’t get any worse.
If diverticulitis keeps coming back over and over, it’s worth talking to agastroenterologist(a specialist in conditions affecting the digestive system) about why that might be happening, if there’s anything that can prevent it, or if there is another condition that could be causing problems.
Summary
It might not be possible to avoid a flare-up of diverticular disease, and there’s not much good evidence to guide diet and lifestyle changes. It’s important to get instructions from a healthcare provider about what to do if there are symptoms of diverticulitis. But most people who have diverticula in their colon never have any symptoms.
A Word From Verywell
Diverticular disease is common, especially in Western countries like the United States.As with most health conditions, making choices every day that support health is important in avoiding complications.
It might not always be possible, because not everything that happens with health is under a person’s direct control. But not smoking, eating a high fiber diet, and getting regular exercise are all supportive of avoiding complications from diverticular disease.
Frequently Asked QuestionsIt’s not thought that foods trigger diverticulitis. Eating a healthy diet with enough fiber is usually recommended to avoid flare-ups and complications. It’s no longer recommended that people avoid nuts, seeds, and popcorn if they have diverticular disease.With active diverticulitis, it might be recommended that people avoid fruit and vegetable juices with pulp, alcoholic beverages, and milk products.The symptoms of diverticulitis may go away in a few days. However, it’s usually recommended that people follow a liquid diet for a few days and avoid foods such as red meat, raw fruits and vegetables, and high fiber foods. If symptoms don’t improve or they get worse, other treatments might be needed.Learn MoreDoes Diverticulitis Go Away?
It’s not thought that foods trigger diverticulitis. Eating a healthy diet with enough fiber is usually recommended to avoid flare-ups and complications. It’s no longer recommended that people avoid nuts, seeds, and popcorn if they have diverticular disease.
With active diverticulitis, it might be recommended that people avoid fruit and vegetable juices with pulp, alcoholic beverages, and milk products.
The symptoms of diverticulitis may go away in a few days. However, it’s usually recommended that people follow a liquid diet for a few days and avoid foods such as red meat, raw fruits and vegetables, and high fiber foods. If symptoms don’t improve or they get worse, other treatments might be needed.Learn MoreDoes Diverticulitis Go Away?
The symptoms of diverticulitis may go away in a few days. However, it’s usually recommended that people follow a liquid diet for a few days and avoid foods such as red meat, raw fruits and vegetables, and high fiber foods. If symptoms don’t improve or they get worse, other treatments might be needed.
Learn MoreDoes Diverticulitis Go Away?
6 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Koprowski MA, Affleck A, Tsikitis VL.Emerging evidence and recent controversies in diverticulitis: a 5-year review.Ann Gastroenterology.2022;35:8-16. doi:10.20524/aog.2021.0677Carabotti M, Annibale B, Severi C, Lahner E.Role of fiber in symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease: a systematic review.Nutrients. 2017;9:161. doi:10.3390/nu9020161National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for diverticular disease.Lamanna L, Moran PE.Diverticular disease.Gastroenterol Nurs. 2018;41(2):111-119. doi:10.1097/sga.0000000000000307American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.Diverticular disease expanded information.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition and facts for diverticular disease.
6 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Koprowski MA, Affleck A, Tsikitis VL.Emerging evidence and recent controversies in diverticulitis: a 5-year review.Ann Gastroenterology.2022;35:8-16. doi:10.20524/aog.2021.0677Carabotti M, Annibale B, Severi C, Lahner E.Role of fiber in symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease: a systematic review.Nutrients. 2017;9:161. doi:10.3390/nu9020161National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for diverticular disease.Lamanna L, Moran PE.Diverticular disease.Gastroenterol Nurs. 2018;41(2):111-119. doi:10.1097/sga.0000000000000307American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.Diverticular disease expanded information.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition and facts for diverticular disease.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Koprowski MA, Affleck A, Tsikitis VL.Emerging evidence and recent controversies in diverticulitis: a 5-year review.Ann Gastroenterology.2022;35:8-16. doi:10.20524/aog.2021.0677Carabotti M, Annibale B, Severi C, Lahner E.Role of fiber in symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease: a systematic review.Nutrients. 2017;9:161. doi:10.3390/nu9020161National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for diverticular disease.Lamanna L, Moran PE.Diverticular disease.Gastroenterol Nurs. 2018;41(2):111-119. doi:10.1097/sga.0000000000000307American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.Diverticular disease expanded information.National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition and facts for diverticular disease.
Koprowski MA, Affleck A, Tsikitis VL.Emerging evidence and recent controversies in diverticulitis: a 5-year review.Ann Gastroenterology.2022;35:8-16. doi:10.20524/aog.2021.0677
Carabotti M, Annibale B, Severi C, Lahner E.Role of fiber in symptomatic uncomplicated diverticular disease: a systematic review.Nutrients. 2017;9:161. doi:10.3390/nu9020161
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Treatment for diverticular disease.
Lamanna L, Moran PE.Diverticular disease.Gastroenterol Nurs. 2018;41(2):111-119. doi:10.1097/sga.0000000000000307
American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons.Diverticular disease expanded information.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.Definition and facts for diverticular disease.
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